Movable aperture photoelectric measuring instrument

ABSTRACT

A photoelectric measuring instrument for determining position deviations of an object is provided with an illuminated aperture and an objective which cooperate to generate an image of the illuminated aperture on the object to be measured. The image of the illuminated aperture on the object is reflected by the object and in turn imaged onto the illuminated aperture. This aperture is firmly connected with a measuring graduation which is scanned by a scanning unit to measure the position of the aperture. In the preferred embodiments, both the aperture and the graduation are formed by photolithographic techniques on a photoimpermeable layer which is carried by a transparent plate.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a photoelectric length measuring instrument for measuring changes in position of an object, of the type wherein an optical system is provided for projecting the image of an aperture onto the object, and for projecting a reflected image of this aperture back from the object to the instrument.

German Pat. No. 20 23 265 discloses a prior art photoelectric measuring system for the determination of changes in position of an object, in which a periodically oscillating illuminated aperture is provided for scanning the object to be measured. An optical system is provided for imaging the oscillating image of the aperture projected onto the object back on to the oscillating aperture. This oscillating aperture simultaneously functions as a source of illumination light and as a scanning element. The oscillating aperture periodically scans the position of the aperture image in its oscillation plane. The position of this image represents a measure of the change of the position of the object to be measured. In order to allow relatively large position deviations of the object to be measured, the oscillating system is arranged slidably in the field of view of the reproducing optical system. For the determination of the displacement path, this oscillating system is mechanically coupled with a length measuring system.

In this prior art measuring system, the oscillating aperture is fastened to a vibrating or oscillating string. This oscillating system requires for its excitation an electro-mechanical oscillator. The amplitude of oscillation is regulated by means of a velocity sensor which supplies an input signal to a servo system which symmetrically adjusts the oscillating aperture with respect to the perpendicular which extends from a mirror connected to the object to be measured and passes through the center of the reproduction objective lens. Furthermore, a separate length measuring system is required for the determination of the displacement of the oscillating aperture.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to an improved photoelectric measuring system of the general type described above which provides substantially simplified construction without a reduction in measuring accuracy.

According to this invention, a photoelectric length measuring instrument of the general type described above is provided with means for defining at least one measuring graduation mounted to the at least one aperture to move with the aperture. A scanning unit is mounted to scan the at least one measuring graduation to measure the position of the graduation and thereby of the aperture. In one preferred embodiment of this invention, the image of the light emitting aperture is reflected off of the object being measured and is projected onto a second, receiving aperture rather than onto the first aperture. The second receiving aperture is aligned with the first aperture such that the position of the second aperture at which the reflected image of the first aperture coincides with the second aperture is a measure of the position of the object being measured. In this embodiment, a measuring graduation is mounted to the first and second apertures to move with these apertures, and a scanning unit is mounted to scan the measuring graduation to measure the position of the graduation and thereby of the first and second apertures. This invention provides the important advantage that it makes possible an improved measuring instrument having a large measuring range which operates at high accuracy and can be fabricated economically. Further advantageous features of this invention are set forth in the dependent claims defined below.

The invention itself, together with further objects and attendant advantages, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a measuring instrument which incorporates a first preferred embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a waveform diagram of three signals generated by the embodiment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3a is a plan view of a first aperture plate suitable for use in the embodiment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3b is a sectional view taken along lines 3b--3b of FIG. 3a.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a second aperture plate suitable for use in the embodiment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a third aperture plate suitable for use in the embodiment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a fourth embodiment of an aperture plate suitable for use with this invention.

FIG. 7a is a sectional view of a fifth preferred embodiment of this invention taken along lines 7a--7a of FIG. 7b.

FIG. 7b is a sectional view taken along line 7b--7b of FIG. 7a.

FIG. 7c is side elevational view taken along line 7c--7c of FIG. 7a.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Turning now to the drawings, FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a measuring instrument which incorporates a first preferred embodiment of this invention. This measuring instrument includes a transparent plate 1 which acts as a carrier for an opaque, photoimpermeable diaphragm 3. This diaphragm 3 refines an aperture 2 and a measuring graduation 4. The aperture 2 is illuminated by means of a lamp 5. Light from the lamp 5 passes through lenses 6a, 6b and a beam splitter 7 before impinging on the aperture 2. The light rays emerging from the aperture 2 pass through a reproduction objective lens 8 and are projected onto a plane mirror 9, which is fastened to an object (not shown) to be measured. The image of the aperture 2 which is reflected by the plane mirror 9 passes through the reproduction objective lens 8 and is re-imaged in the focal plane of the reproduction objective lens 8 in the plane of the plate 1. The aperture 2 serves as a scanning element for this reflected image of the aperture 2. Light rays which pass from the mirror 9 through the aperture 2 are projected by the objective 6b, the beam spliter 7, and the lens 10 onto a photosensor 11. This photosensor serves to evaluate the amplitude of the light passing from the mirror 9 through the aperture 2 during scanning.

The graduation 4 is scanned photoelectrically with the aid of a scanning plate 12 that defines at least one division field which corresponds to the graduation 4. A corresponding number of photoelements 13 measure the amplitude of light which passes from the lamp 5 by means of a mirror 14 through the graduation 4 and the scanning plate 12.

As shown in FIG. 1, the normal axis to the plane mirror 9 encloses an angle φ with the optical axis 15 of the autocollimator. In order to allow the determination of the magnitude of this angle φ, the transparent plate 1, with the aperture 2 and the graduation 4 thereon, is slidably arranged obliquely to the longitudinal extent of the aperture 2. As the plate 1 moves in the X direction, there is a certain position X₁ at which the aperture 2 is positioned such that the reflection of the aperture 2 generated at the focal plane of the lens 8 coincides with the position of the aperture 2, and thereby allows the reflected light rays to pass via the beam splitter 7 onto the photosensor 11. During the scanning operation, displacement of the plate 2 brings about a modulation of the light beam falling on the photosensor 13. The photosensor 13 generates a periodic output signal S₂ which is a measure of the position of the plate 2 and can be evaluated in a known manner and applied to a counter which acts to count cycles of the signal S₂ . As shown in FIG. 2, The output signal S₁ of the photosensor 11 indicates when the reflected image of the aperture 2 coincides with the position of the aperture 2. The output signal S₂ of the photosensor 13 is a periodic signal as described above indicative of the movement of the plate 2. The position X₁ of the plate 2 at which the aperture image coincides with the aperture can be determined from the relation X₁ =Z₁ ·C, in which Z₁ signifies the number of cycles (light-dark periods) of the periodic signal S₂ generated by the photosensor 13 and C signifies the grid constant of the division 4. The angle φ can then be determined according to the following relationship:

    φ=arctan X.sub.1 /f,

wherein f equals the focal length of the reproduction objective lens 8. For small angles, the following approximation obtains:

    φ=X.sub.1 /f=Z.sub.1 ·C/f.

The focal length f and the grid constant C can be expediently chosen in such a way that one counting step of the counter (one cycle of the signal S₂) corresponds to the desired measuring step of the angle Δφ as follows:

    Δφ=C/f.

If need be, the period of the graduation 4 can be subdivided accordingly to known methods by the factor N. For example, several scanning fields can be arranged phase shifted with respect to one another on the scanning plate 12 and associated photosensors can be used to measure smaller measuring steps Δφ=C/(N·f). The zero position X₀ of the measuring magnitude X can be obtained or reproduced by scanning reference marks 16 associated with the graduation 4 on the plate 1 by means of a photosensor (not shown). In FIG. 2, the signal S₃ indicates the manner in which the output of this photosensor peaks at the selected zero position X₀.

As shown in FIGS. 3a and 3b, the transparent plate 1 which defines the aperture 2, the graduation 4, and the reference mark 16 is in this embodiment fastened to a carrier 17 which is linearly guided in a frame 18 by means of spheres 19. The movement of the plate 1 in the X direction (perpendicular to the longitudinal extent of the aperture 2) is an oscillatory movement which is driven by a motor 20. This motor 20 rotates an eccentric 21 that serves to shift the carrier 17 periodically in the X direction.

FIG. 4 shows an alternative embodiment of an aperture plate suitable use in the instrument of FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 4, a plate 1₁ is provided which defines an aperture 2₁, a graduation 4₁, and a reference mark 16₁. This plate 1₁ is fastened to a carrier 17₁. A motor 20₁ is provided which rotates a crank 22₁. This crank 22₁ is coupled to the carrier 17₁, which is supported by two revolving rocker arms 23₁. With this linkage, the motor 22₁ drives the carrier 17₁ in a two dimensional, periodic, translatory movement in the X and Y directions of a predetermined coordinate system. In this embodiment, the rocker arms 23₁ are the same length as the crank 22₁ and are arranged parallel to the crank 22₁. The rocker arms 23₁ and the cranks 22₁ are pivotally mounted to articulate on the carrier 17₁.

FIG. 5 shows a schematic representation of a third aperture plate suitable for use in this invention. As shown in FIG. 5, a plate 1₂ is provided which defines two elongated apertures 2₂ ', 2₂ " which are oriented perpendicularly to one another. The plate 1₂ also defines a graduation 4₂ and a reference mark 16₂. The plate 1₂ is mounted on a carrier 17₂ which is linearly guided in a frame 18₂ by means of spheres 19₂. The plate 1₂ is guided along the direction oriented at an angle π/4 with respect to a predetermined X and Y coordinate system. The plate 1₂ is oscillated along this direction by means of a motor 20₂ which rotates a crank 22₂. This crank 22₂ is connected to the carrier 17₂ by a connecting rod 24₂ which is articulated on the carrier 17₂. The aperture 2₂ ' is oriented in the X direction and the aperture 2₂ " is oriented in the Y direction of the coordinate system, so that the apertures 2₂ ', 2₂ " move successively obliquely through their longitudinal extents through the optical axis of the measuring instrument as the plate 1₂ is displaced periodically by the motor 20₂. By means of the graduation 4₂ and the reference mark 16₂, the position of the two apertures 2₂ ', 2₂ " is measured, so that the angular position of the plane mirror connected with the object to be measured can be determined in both coordinate directions.

FIG. 6 shows a schematic representation of a fourth embodiment of an aperture plate suitable for use with the invention. As shown in FIG. 6, a plate 1₃ is provided which defines two apertures 2₃ ', 2₃ " oriented perpendicularly to one another. This plate 1₃ is mounted on a carrier 17₃, which is moved in a periodic pattern by means of a motor 20₃. This motor 20₃ rotates a crank 22₃ which is coupled in an articulated manner to the carrier 17₃. The carrier 17₃ is further supported by two revolving rocker arms 23₃, such that the carrier 17₃ undergoes a two dimensional, periodic, translatory movement in the X and Y directions of a given coordinate system as the crank 22₃ is rotated by the motor 20₃. The rocker arms 23₃ are the same length as the crank 22₃ and are arranged parallel to the crank 22₃. The rocker arms 23₃ and the crank 22₃ are articulated on the carrier 17₃. A graduation 4₃ ' and a reference mark 16₃ ' are mounted on the plate 1₃ and are associated with the aperture 2₃ '. An additional graduation 4₃ " and an associated reference mark 16₃ " are also mounted on the plate 1₃ and associated with the aperture 2₃ ". The longitudinal extent of the aperture 2₃ ' is oriented in the X direction and the longitudinal extent of the aperture 2₃ " is oriented in the Y direction of the coordinate system, so that the apertures 2₃ ', 2₃ ", during the translatory displacement of the plate 1₃ in the X and Y directions move successively transversely to their longitudinal extents through the optical axis of the measuring system. By means of the graduations 4₃ ', 4₃ " and the associated reference marks 6₃ ', 6₃ " the movements of the two apertures 2₃ ', 2₃ " are measured. In this way, it is possible to determine the angular position of the plane mirror connected with the object to be measured in both coordinate directions.

FIGS. 7a, 7b, and 7c show a measuring instrument which comprises a casing 25. This casing 25 serves to mount a collimator tube 26 which serves as a light emitter and two collimator telescopes 27 and 28 which serve as light receivers (FIG. 7c). The casing 25 serves to mount a carrier 17₄ on which is secured a transparent plate 1₄ oriented perpendicularly to the collimator tube 26 and the two collimator telescopes 27, 28. A motor 20₄ is mounted within the casing 26 and serves to rotate a crank 22₄. This crank 22₄ is pivotally coupled to the carrier 17₄, and two revolving rocker arms 23₄ are also interconnected between the casing 25 and the carrier 17₄. When the crank 22₄ is rotated by the motor 20₄, the carrier 17₄ undergoes a two dimensional, periodic, translatory movement in the X and Y directions of a given coordinate system. As before, the rocker arms 23₄ have the same length as the crank 22₄ and are arranged parallel to the crank 22₄. Similarly, the rocker arms 23₄ and the crank 22₄ are articulated on the carrier 17₄. As shown in FIG. 7b, the plate 1₄ defines a first pair of a light emitting aperture 29' and a light receiving aperture 29" as well as a second pair of a light emitting aperture 30' and a light receiving aperture 30". The apertures 29', 29" are aligned such that both are oriented with their longitudinal extent oriented in the X direction. Similarly, the apertures 30', 30" are aligned with respect to one another such that their longitudinal axis extends in the Y direction of the given coordinate system. A graduation 4₄ ' and an associated reference mark 16₄ ' are associated on the plate 1₄ with the apertures 29', and 29", and a graduation 4₄ " and an associated reference mark 16₄ " are defined by the plate 1₄ in association with apertures 30', 30" .

As shown in FIG. 7a, the light emitting apertures 29', 30' are illuminated in the collimator tube 26 by a lamp 5₄ which directs light through a lens 31. The light rays which emerge from the emitting apertures 29', 30' pass through an objective lens 32 onto a plane mirror (not shown) which is fastened to an object to be measured. The image of the emitting aperture 29' reflected by the plane mirror is reproduced or projected by means of a reproduction objective 33 in the collimator telescope 27 onto the receiving aperture 29", and the reflected image of the light emitting aperture 30' reflected by the plane mirror is reproduced by means of a reproduction objective lens 34 and the collimator telescope 28 onto the light receiving aperture 30". The light rays which pass through the receiving apertures 29" are collected (in a manner not shown) by a lens onto a photosensor; similarly, the light rays which pass through the receiving aperture 30" are collected by a lens 35 onto a photosensor 36.

The graduation 4₄ ' is scanned by means of a scanning plate 12₄ and a photosensor 13₄. The graduation 4₄ ' and the scanning plate 12₄ are illuminated by a light-emitting diode 37. The graduation 4₄ " is scanned by an analogous scanning unit (not shown). By means of the graduations 4₄ ', 4₄ " and the associated reference marks 16₄ ', 16₄ ", the movements of the aperture pairs 29', 29"; 30', 30" are measured. In this way, the angular position of the plane mirror about axes parallel to the aperture pairs 29', 29"; 30', 30" in directions parallel to the coordinate directions are determined.

The aperture pair 29', 29" and the aperture pair 30', 30" can in an alternate embodiment in each case consist of a single aperture.

In each of the preferred embodiments described above, the apertures 2, 29 and 30 as well as the associated graduations 4 and reference marks 16 on the transparent plate 1 are generated by vaporizing a photoimpermeable layer onto the plate, and by then forming patterns in this layer by photolithographic techniques.

The measuring instrument shown in FIGS. 7a, 7b, and 7c is particularly advantageous when large measuring ranges are required. This is because the direct current constituent of the signal S₁ which arises through the reflection on the back of the plate 1 and the aperture forming layer is largely excluded. That is, the minimum value of the signal S₁ is more nearly equal to zero.

Of course, it shoud be understood that a wide range of changes and modifications to the preferred embodiments described above will be apparent to those skilled in the art. It is therefore intended that the foregoing detailed description be regarded as illustrative rather than limiting, and that it be understood that it is the following claims, including all equivalents, which are intended to define the scope of this invention. 

I claim:
 1. In a photoelectric length measuring instrument for measuring changes in position of an object, said instrument comprising at least one aperture, and an optical system for projecting an image of the at least one aperture onto the object and a reflected image of the at least one aperture from the object back to the at least one aperture such that the position of the at least one aperture at which the reflected image of the at least one aperture coincides with the at least one aperture is a direct measure of the position of the object, the improvement comprising:means for defining first and second apertures arranged perpendicularly to one another and included in the at least one aperture; means for defining at least one measuring graduation mounted to the first and second apertures to move with the first and second apertures; and a scanning unit mounted to scan the at least one measuring graduation to measure the position of the graduation and thereby of the first and second apertures in two directions positioned orthogonally with respect to one another.
 2. The invention of claim 1 wherein the first and second apertures and the at least one measuring graduation are applied to a common transparent plate.
 3. The invention of claim 2 wherein the first and second apertures are slit shaped and wherein the invention further comprises means for guiding the plate for movement along a line at an angle with respect to the longitudinal extent of the first and second apertures.
 4. The invention of claim 2 wherein the measuring graduation is oriented obiquely to the first and second apertures, and wherein the invention further comprises means for guiding the plate in one dimensional, periodic, translatory movement obliquely to the first and second apertures.
 5. The invention of claim 2 wherein the plate further comprises means for defining a reference mark aligned with the at least one measuring graduation.
 6. The invention of claim 5 wherein the plate comprises a patterned opaque layer which defines the first and second apertures, the at least one graduation, and the reference mark.
 7. A photoelectric length measuring instrument for measuring changes in position of an object, said instrument comprising:a first aperture; a second aperture aligned with the first aperture; optical means for projecting an image of the first aperture onto the object and a reflected image of the first aperture from the object to the second aperture such that the position of the second aperture at which the reflected image of the first aperture coincides with the second aperture is a measure of the position of the object; a measuring graduation mounted to the first and second apertures to move with the first and second apertures; and a scanning unit mounted to scan the measuring graduation to measure the position of the graduations and thereby of the first and second apertures.
 8. The invention of claim 7 wherein the first and second apertures and the measuring graduation are applied to a common transparent plate.
 9. The invention of claim 8 further comprising means for moving the plate in a circular movement.
 10. The invention of claim 8 wherein the plate further defines a third emitting aperture and a fourth receiving aperture, each oriented perpendicularly to the first and second apertures; wherein the plate further defines an additional measuring graduation associated with the third and fourth apertures; and wherein the invention further comprises means for guiding the plate in circular movement.
 11. The invention of claim 8 wherein the plate further defines a third emitting aperture and a fourth receiving aperture, each oriented perpendicularly to the first and second apertures; wherein the measuring graduation is oriented obliquely to the first, second, third, and fourth apertures; and wherein the invention further comprises means for guiding the plate in one dimensional periodic translatory movement obliquely to the first, second, third, and fourth apertures.
 12. The invention of claim 8 wherein the plate further comprises means for defining a reference mark aligned with the measuring graduation.
 13. The invention of claim 12 wherein the plate comprises a patterned opaque layer which defines the first and second apertures, the graduation, and the reference mark.
 14. In a photoelectric length measuring instrument for measuring changes in position of an object, said instrument comprising at least one aperture, and an optical system for projecting an image of the at least one aperture onto the object and a reflected image of the at least one aperture from the object back to the at least one aperture such that the position of the at least one aperture at which the reflected image of the at least one aperture coincides with the at least one aperture is a measure of the position of the object, the improvement comprising:means for defining at least one measuring graduation mounted to the at least one aperture to move with the at least one aperture, said aperture and measuring graduation applied to a common transparent plate; a scanning unit mounted to scan the at least one measuring graduation to measure the position of the graduation and thereby of the at least one aperture; and means for moving the plate in a circular movement.
 15. The invention of claim 14 wherein the at least one aperture comprises two apertures defined by the plate and oriented transversely to one another; and wherein the at least one measuring graduation comprises two measuring graduations defined by the plate, each allocated to a respective one of the two apertures. 